St. Editha's Church - Polesworth Abbey

The children found it easy to access the VIS-BOX on their trip to Polesworth Abbey and were completely engaged by the series of professional smart tours of the church.
The films of the Belltower in action and the workings of the church organ gave them views not normally available to them.

I'm pleased to commend the VIS-BOX which is fully operational here at Polesworth Abbey. In fact this week I had a session with various interested parties all of whom were amazed at it! We're planning some awareness sessions for our Welcome Volunteers but already people who visit are seeing the notices and stickers and I find groups of people logging on, even when there isn't someone there who is suggesting it.

The system that we have provides information about things that visitors encounter as the walk around the Abbey. The presentations enable visitors to see things 'in action' and also to hear from people about 'what it means to them'.

This is really engaging and we are now proposing an exhibition where visitors can leave their thoughts — it's certainly helping not only with providing information and engaging people in that way, it's stimulating the encounter with the heritage as something living.

We hope that people take away the 'sense of place' - some of the English Heritage documentation refers to heritage in this way, it seems very relevant.

Our VIS-BOX currently gives 1) a tour of the inside of the Abbey and 2) three tours with commentary about the stained glass windows.

This latter was something that our volunteers suggested as we worked with Peter on the content. We are very very pleased with the result and are now considering using the system to enable people to see photos and videos of areas in our grounds where community archaeology has taken place.

We feel that having started to use the VIS-BOX that this 'revealing' of the history and of the involvement of local people with their-heritage is certainly something that the VIS-BOX will deliver - a huge opportunity for local people, schools visitors and others to see what has been achieved.

Father Philip Wells Polesworth Abbey

Slideshow of VIS-BOX being used at Polesworth Abbey

Maps allow visitors to select each smart tour film as they get to the relevant area.

A map of the stained glass windows story trail.

Audiotrails and smart tours bring each part of the the church to life.

The children easily log on to VIS-BOX with their own devices.

Learning more about the Saxon history of Polesworth Abbey thanks to VIS-BOX.

The children learn about the font and watch a virtual Baptism in action - something many people may not have seen before.